Around Campus: Friday, November 15, 2013

Upcoming Events

UNC Students to Collect Food, Cash Friday Night to Help Homeless

A group of University of Northern Colorado students will seek food and cash donations Friday while they spend the night outdoors to raise awareness of the homeless in the Greeley area and help those recently homeless due to flooding.

Around 25 students will participate in the third-annual project, dubbed "Operation Hibernation" and organized by members of UNC's United Black Government student organization.

A list of food items the group needs includes canned goods and non-perishable items such as canned meat or tuna, canned fruits and vegetables, soups and stews, pasta, peanut butter and juices. Monetary donations will also be accepted.

Donations Sought for School of Communication Toy Drive

The School of Communication has partnered with the Weld County chapter of Toys for Tots for the first-ever "Message of Hope" toy drive. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the school's office in Candelaria 1265.

The toys will be displayed in the corner display case on Candelaria's first floor until they're donated to Toys for Tots over the Thanksgiving break.

If you can't make it to Candelaria to drop off your donation, call the school at 351-2045 and someone will pick up your toys from any campus location.

UNC community members can now purchase discounted Winter Park and Copper Mountain daily lift tickets at the UNC Outdoor Pursuits Gear Shop in the west entrance of Harrison Hall. Lift tickets cost $60 each until Dec. 15 and $70 after then. There are no blackout dates or purchase limits until April 20. The Gear Shop is open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Sustainability Council Releases Green Guide and Gets Social

The UNC Sustainability Council believes that at UNC, yellow and blue truly do make green and has developed the Green Guide for ideas and suggestions about green living at UNC. The council also has created a Facebook page to provide information on sustainability topics and events.

Pakistani Teachers Leave UNC with New Perspectives

Eighteen teachers from Pakistan are taking new perspectives, as well as new skills, back to their classrooms as the result of a six-week professional development program this fall at the University of Northern Colorado.

From late-August to mid-October, the teachers attended development courses and spent approximately 40 hours at local schools shadowing teachers. They also gave presentations about Pakistan at Greeley Place, where they also shared meals with senior citizens.

The group was part of the U.S. Department of State's Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program.

"The purpose of this program is to improve the teachers' English and give them methods for teaching," said Madeline Milian, co-director of UNC's TEA program. "We also wanted them to learn more about our educational system and to enhance their understanding of the U.S."

The TEA participants attended grammar and ESL courses to improve their English skills and learned how to incorporate new technology into their classrooms in Pakistan.

A farewell reception showcased the skills they learned as part of the program. Some teachers sang songs, others read poems and still others presented a photo montage of their journey.

Science teacher Najma Khan said that the program helped her gain a better understanding of technology.

"At home, we just have a blackboard, but to be able to use this technology will help me greatly," Khan said.

Humaira Kamran was grateful for the opportunities afforded to her by the experience.

"I am glad for this opportunity," she said. "I can teach my students much more easily now."

In its third year, UNC's TEA program received $200,000 in federal funding. Fifty Pakistani teachers have completed the program at UNC since its start in 2011. Only 30 out of approximately 300 Pakistanis who applied were selected to come to the United States.

- Alyse DeVan, Senior Journalism Major

English Department Adds Secondary English Education Endorsement Program

UNC's English Department spring semester will begin offering the Secondary Education Endorsement (SEE) program for secondary and K-12 teacher candidates who are not English majors, practicing teachers and those pursuing teacher licensure at other institutions.

SEE will prepare students for an endorsement in English Language Arts with an emphasis on improving literacy skills in the classroom. The endorsement will be offered entirely online and can be completed in two years.

For more information, contact the English Department at 970-351-2971 or Teresa Sellmer at 970-351-2142.